Process for selective removal of H2 S from mixtures containing H22 with heterocyclic tertiary aminoalkanols

ABSTRACT

The selective removal of H2S gas from a normally gaseous mixture containing H2S and CO2 is accomplished by contacting the gaseous mixture with an absorbent solution comprising a nitrogen heterocyclic tertiary aminoalkanol or aminoetheralkanol whereby H2S is selectively absorbed from the mixture.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to an improved process for selective removal of H₂ S from gaseous mixtures containing H₂ S and CO₂ wherein solutions of a class of heterocyclic tertiary aminoalkanols are employed.

2. Description of Related Patents

It is well known in the art to treat gases and liquids, such as mixtures containing acidic gases including CO₂, H₂ S, CS₂, HCN, COS and oxygen and sulfur derivatives of C₁ to C₄ hydrocarbons with amine solutions to remove these acidic gases. The amine usually contacts the acidic gases and the liquids as an aqueous solution containing the amine in an absorber tower with the aqueous amine solution contacting the acidic fluid countercurrently.

The treatment of acid gas mixtures containing, inter alia, CO₂ and H₂ S with amine solutions typically results in the simultaneous removal of substantial amounts of both the CO₂ and H₂ S. For example, in one such process generally referred to as the "aqueous amine process," relatively concentrated amine solutions are employed. A recent improvement on this process involves the use of sterically hindered amines as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,112,052, to obtain nearly complete removal of acid gases such as CO₂ and H₂ S. This type of process may be used where the partial pressures of the CO₂ and related gases are low. Another process often used for specialized applications where the partial pressure of CO₂ is extremely high and/or where many acid gases are present, e.g., H₂ S, COS, CH₃ SH and CS₂ involves the use of an amine in combination with a physical absorbent, generally referred to as the "nonaqueous solvent process." An improvement on this process involves the use of sterically hindered amines and organic solvents as the physical absorbent such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,112,051.

It is often desirable, however, to treat acid gas mixtures containing both CO₂ and H₂ S so as to remove the H₂ S selectively from the mixture, thereby minimizing removal of the CO₂. Selective removal of H₂ S results in a relatively high H₂ S/CO₂ ratio in the separated acid gas which simplifies the conversion of H₂ S to elemental sulfur using the Claus process.

The typical reactions of aqueous secondary and tertiary amines with CO₂ and H₂ S can be represented as follows:

    H.sub.2 S+R.sub.3 N⃡R.sub.3 NH.sup.+ +SH.sup.- ( 1)

    H.sub.2 S+R.sub.2 NH⃡R.sub.2 NH.sub.2.sup.30 +SH.sup.31 ( 2)

    CO.sub.2 +R.sub.3 N+H.sub.2 O⃡R.sub.3 NH.sup.30 +HCO.sub.3.sup.31                                         ( 3)

    CO.sub.2 +2R.sub.2 NH⃡R.sub.2 NH.sub.2.sup.+ +R.sub.2 NCOO.sup.31                                               ( 4)

wherein R is an organic radical which may be the same or different and may be substituted with a hydroxyl group. The above reactions are reversible, and the partial pressures of both CO₂ and H₂ S are thus important in determining the degree to which the above reactions occur.

While selective H₂ S removal is applicable to a number of gas treating operations including treatment of hydrocarbon gases from shale pyrolysis, refinery gas and natural gas having a low H₂ S/CO₂ ratio, it is particularly desirable in the treatment of gases wherein the partial pressure of H₂ S is relatively low compared to that of CO₂ because the capacity of an amine to absorb H₂ S from the latter type gases is very low. Examples of gases with relatively low partial pressures of H₂ S include synthetic gases made by coal gasification, sulfur plant tail gas and low-Joule fuel gases encountered in refineries where heavy residual oil is being thermally converted to lower molecular weight liquids and gases.

Although it is known that solutions of primary and secondary amines such as monoethanolamine (MEA), diethanolamine (DEA), dipropanolamine (DPA), and hydroxyethoxyethylamine (DGA) absorb both H₂ S and CO₂ gas, they have not proven especially satisfactory for preferential absorption of H₂ S to the exclusion of CO₂ because the amines undergo a facile reaction with CO₂ to form carbamates.

Diisopropanolamine (DIPA) is relatively unique among secondary aminoalcohols in that it has been used industrially, alone or with a physical solvent such as sulfolane, for selective removal of H₂ S from gases containing H₂ S and CO₂, but contact times must be kept relatively short to take advantage of the faster reaction of H₂ S with the amine compared to the rate of CO₂ reaction as shown in Equations 2 and 4 hereinabove.

In 1950, Frazier and Kohl, Ind. and Eng. Chem., 42, 2288 (1950) showed that the tertiary amine, methyldiethanolamine (MDEA), has a high degree of selectivity toward H₂ S absorption over CO₂. This greater selectivity was attributed to the relatively slow chemical reaction of CO₂ with tertiary amines as compared to the rapid chemical reaction of H₂ S. The commercial usefulness of MDEA, however, is limited because of its restricted capacity for H₂ S loading and its limited ability to reduce the H₂ S content to the level at low pressures which is necessary for treating, for example, synthetic gases made by coal gasification.

Recently, U.K. Patent Publication No. 2,017,524A to Shell disclosed that aqueous solutions of dialkylmonoalkanolamines, and particularly diethylmonoethanolamine (DEAE), have higher selectivity and capacity for H₂ S removal at higher loading levels than MDEA solutions. Nevertheless, even DEAE is not very effective for the low H₂ S loading frequency encountered in the industry. Also, DEAE has a boiling point of only 161° C.; therefore it is characterized as being a low-boiling, relatively highly volatile amino alcohol. Such high volatilities under most gas scrubbing conditions result in large material losses with consequent losses in economic advantages.

Other absorbent solutions which are selective to H₂ S removal but have selectivity and/or capacity limitations similar to those of MDEA include solutions of 1-formylpiperidine as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,107,270, piperazine as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,112,049, and solutions, in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, of cyanopyridine, an aromatic nitrile, an anhydride, or a piperazine, as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,656,887, 3,767,766, 3,642,431, and G. B. Pat. No. 1,560,905, respectively.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It has now been discovered that absorbent solutions of a certain class of amino compounds defined as nitrogen heterocyclic tertiary aminoakaols and aminoetheralkanols have a high selectivity for H₂ S compared to CO₂. These amino compounds surprisingly maintain their high selectivity at high H₂ S and CO₂ loadings.

The nitrogen heterocyclic tertiary aminoalkanol or aminoetheralkanol of the present invention is defined as a compound wherein the heterocycle portion contains 4-8 ring atoms, preferably 4-7 ring atoms, most preferably five ring atoms, of which one is nitrogen, and may be unsubstituted or substituted, e.g., with hydroxyl, alkyl or hydroxyalkyl radicals, an wherein the alkanol portion is arranged in a liner or branched fashion, connected to the heterocycle portion via a ring nitrogen or ring carbon atom. The alkanol portion contains at least two carbon atoms, preferably 2-10 carbon atoms, when the alkanol carbon atoms is attached to the nitrogen atom. The hydroxy carbon group can be attached directly to a ring carbon atom or separated from a ring carbon atom by 1-5 carbon atoms. The hydrocarbon chain of the alkanol portion may be alkoxylated, i.e., may contain one or more ether oxygen atoms. The hydroxyl functionality of the alkanol chain may be primary or secondary.

Representative such tertiary aminoalkanols include, for example, N-(3-hydroxypropyl)azetidine, N-hydroxyethylpyrrolidine, N-(3-hydroxypropyl)pyrrolidine, N-(2-hydroxypropyl)pyrrolidine, N-(4-hydroxy-2-butyl)-pyrrolidine, N-(4-hydroxybutyl)pyrrolidine, N-(hydroxyethoxyethyl)-2,5-dimethylpyrrolidine, N-(3-hydroxypropyl)-2,5-dimethylpyrrolidine, N-(3-hydroxypropyl)piperidine, N-hydroxyethylpiperidine, N-methyl-2-hydroxyethylpiperidine, N-methyl-3-hydroxymethylpiperidine, N-(2-hydroxyethoxyethyl)pyrrolidine, N-2-[(2-hydroxypropoxy)ethyl]-pyrrolidine, N-2-[(2-hydroxypropoxy)propyl]pyrrolidine, N-(2-hydroxyethoxyethyl)piperidine, N-(3-hydroxypropyl)-azepane, and the like.

In particular, the present invention relates to a process for the selective absorption of H₂ S from a normally gaseous mixture containing H₂ S and CO₂ comprising:

(a) contacting said normally gaseous mixture with an absorbent solution comprising a nitrogen heterocyclic tertiary aminoalkanol o aminoetheralkanol under conditions such that H₂ S is selectively absorbed from said mixture;

(b) regenerating, at least partially, said absorbent solution containing H₂ S; and

(c) recycling the regenerated solution for the selective absorption of H₂ S by contacting as in step (a).

Preferably, the regeneration step is carried out by heating and stripping and more preferably heating and stripping with steam.

The amino compound is preferably one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of N-(3-hydroxypropyl) azetidine, N-hydroxyethylpyrrolidine, N-(3-hydroxypropyl)pyrrolidine, N-(4-hydroxy-2-butyl)pyrrolidine, N-(4-hydroxybutyl)pyrrolidine, N-(3-hydroxypropyl)-2,5-dimethylpyrrolidine, N-(hydroxyethoxyethyl)-2,5-dimethylpyrrolidine, N-(2-hydroxyethoxyethyl)pyrrolidine, N-(3-hydroxypropyl)piperidine, and N-(3-hydroxypropyl)azepane. Two particularly preferred amino compounds are N-(3-hydroxypropyl)azetidine and N-(3-hydroxypropyl)pyrrolidine.

The amino compounds herein are further characterized by their low volatility and high solubility in water at selective H₂ S removal conditions, and most of the compounds are also generally soluble in polar organic solvent systems which may or may not contain water. The term "absorbent solution" as used herein includes but is not limited to solutions wherein the amino compound is dissolved in a solvent selected from water or a physical absorbent or mixtures thereof. Solvents which are physical absorbents (as opposed to the amino compounds which are chemical absorbents) are described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,112,051, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, and include, e.g., aliphatic acid amides, N-alkylated pyrrolidones, sulfones, sulfoxides, glycols and the mono- and diethers thereof. The preferred physical absorbents herein are sulfones, and most particularly, sulfolane.

The absorbent solution ordinarily has a concentration of amino compound of about 0.1 to 6 moles per liter of the total solution, and preferably 1 to 4 moles per liter, depending primarily on the specific amino compound employed and the solvent system utilized. If the solvent system is a mixture of water and a physical absorbent, the typical effective amount of the physical absorbent employed may vary from 0.1 to 5 moles per liter of total solution, and preferably from 0.5 to 3 moles per liter, depending mainly on the type of amino compound being utilized. The dependence of the concentration of amino compound on the particular compound employed is significant because increasing the concentration of amino compound may reduce the basicity of the absorbent solution, thereby adversely affecting its selectivity for H₂ S removal, particularly if the amino compound has a specific aqueous solubility limit which will determine maximum concentration levels within the range given above. It is important, therefore, that the proper concentration level appropriate for each particular amino compound be maintained to insure satisfactory results.

The solution of this invention may include a variety of additives typically employed in selective gas removal processes, e.g., antifoaming agents, antioxidants, corrosion inhibitors, and the like. The amount of these additives will typically be in the range that they are effective, i.e., an effective amount.

Also, the amino compounds described herein may be admixed with other amino compounds as a blend, preferably with methyldiethanolamine. The ratio of the respective amino compounds may vary widely, for example, from 1 to 99 weight percent of the amino compounds described herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic flow sheet illustrating an absorption-regeneration unit for selective removal of H₂ S from gaseous streams containing H₂ S and CO₂.

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic flow sheet illustrating an experimental sparged absorber unit for use in rapid determination of the selectivity of the amino compound for selective removal of H₂ S from gaseous streams containing H₂ S and CO₂.

FIG. 3 graphically illustrates the selectivity for H₂ S plotted against the H₂ S and CO₂ loading for N-(3-hydroxypropyl)pyrrolidine (HPP) as compared to MDEA as control.

FIG. 4 graphically illustrates the selectivity for H₂ S plotted against the H₂ S and CO₂ loading for N-hydroxyethylpyrrolidine (HEP) as compared to DEAE as control.

FIG. 5 graphically illustrates the selectivity for H₂ S plotted against the H₂ S and CO₂ loading for N-(4-hydroxy-2-butyl)pyrrolidine (H2BP), N-(4-hydroxybutyl)pyrrolidine (HBP), N-(3-hydroxypropyl)piperidine (HPPi) and N-methyl-2-hydroxyethylpiperidine (MHEPi).

FIG. 6 graphically illustrates the selectivity for H₂ S plotted against the H₂ S and CO₂ loading for N-hydroxyethylpyrrolidine (HEP) and N-(2-hydroxyethoxyethyl)pyrrolidine (HEEP).

FIG. 7 graphically illustrates the effect of the size of the heterocycle (n is number of ring atoms) on the selectivity for H₂ S plotted against the H₂ S and CO₂ loading, using N-(3-hydroxypropyl)azetidine, N-(3-hydroxypropyl)pyrrolidine, N-(3-hydroxypropyl)piperidine and N-(3-hydroxypropyl)azepane.

FIG. 8 graphically illustrates the effect of substitution of the heterocyclic ring by carbon on the selectivity for H₂ S plotted against the H₂ S and CO₂ loading, using N-(3-hydroxypropyl)-2,5-dimethylpyrrolidine (HPDP) and N-(hydroxyethoxyethyl)-2,5-dimethylpyrrolidine (HEEDP).

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The amino compounds used in the process of the present invention have a pK_(a) value at 20° C. greater than 8.6, preferably greater than about 9.5 and more preferably the pK_(a) value of the amino compound will range between about 9.5 and about 10.6. If the pK_(a) is less than 8.6 the reaction with H₂ S is decreased, whereas if the pK_(a) of the amino compound is much greater than about 10.6 an excessive amount of steam is required to regenerate the solution. Also, to insure operational efficiency with minimal losses of the amino compound, the amino compound should have a relatively low volatility. For example, the boiling point of the amine (at 760 mm) is typically greater than about 180° C., preferably greater than 200° C., and more preferably greater than 225° C.

Three characteristics which are of ultimate importance in determining the effectiveness of the amino compounds herein for H₂ S removal are "selectivity", "loading" and "capacity". The term "selectivity" as used throughout the specification is defined as the following mole ratio fraction: ##EQU1## The higher this fraction, the greater the selectivity of the absorbent solution for the H₂ S in the gas mixture.

By the term "loading" is meant the concentration of the H₂ S and CO₂ gases physically dissolved and chemically combined in the absorbent solution as expressed in moles of gas per moles of the amine. The best amino compounds are those which exhibit good selectivity up to a relatively high loading level. The amino compounds used in the practice of the present invention typically have a "selectivity" of not substantially less than 10 at a "loading" of 0.1 moles, preferably, a "selectivity" of not substantially less than 10 at a loading of 0.2 or more moles of H₂ S and CO₂ per mole of the amino compound.

"Capacity" is defined as the moles of H₂ S loaded in the absorbent solution at the end of the absorption step minus the moles of H₂ S loaded in the absorbent solution at the end of the desorption step. High capacity enables one to reduce the amount of amine solution to be circulated and use less heat or steam during regeneration.

The acid gas mixture herein necessarily includes H₂ S, and may optionally include other gases such as CO₂, N₂, CH₄, H₂, CO, H₂ O, COS, HCN, C₂ H₄, NH₃, and the like. Often such gas mixtures are found in combustion gases, refinery gases, town gas, natural gas, syn gas, water gas, propane, propylene, heavy hydrocarbon gases, etc. The absorbent solution herein is particularly effective when the gaseous mixture is a gas, obtained, for example, from shale oil retort gas, coal or gasification of heavy oil with air/steam or oxygen/steam, thermal conversion of heavy residual oil to lower molecular weight liquids and gases, or in sulfur plant tail gas clean-up operations.

The absorption step of this invention generally involves contacting the normally gaseous stream with the absorbent solution in any suitable contacting vessel. In such processes, the normally gaseous mixture containing H₂ S and CO₂ from which the H₂ S is to be selectively removed may be brought into intimate contact with the absorbent solution using conventional means, such as a tower or vessel packed with, for example, rings or with sieve plates, or a bubble reactor.

In a typical mode of practicing the invention, the absorption step is conducted by feeding the normally gaseous mixture into the lower portion of the absorption tower while fresh absorbent solution is fed into the upper region of the tower. The gaseous mixture, freed largely from the H₂ S, energes from the upper portion of the tower, and the loaded absorbent solution, which contains the selectively absorbed H₂ S, leaves the tower near or at its bottm. Preferably, the inlet temperature of the absorbent solution during the absorption step is in the range of from about 20° to about 100° C., and more preferably from 40° to about 60° C. Pressures may vary widely; acceptable pressures are between 5 and 2000 psia, preferably 20 to 1500 psia, and most preferably 25 to 1000 psia in the absorber. The contacting takes place under conditions such that the H₂ S is selectively absorbed by the solution. The absorption conditions and apparatus are designed so as to minimize the residence time of the liquid in the absorber to reduce CO₂ pickup while at the same time maintaining sufficient residence time of gas mixture with liquid to absorb a maximum amount of the H₂ S gas. The amount of liquid required to be circulated to obtain a given degree of H₂ S removal will depend on the chemical structure and basicity of the amino compound and on the partial pressure of H₂ s in the feed gas. Gas mixtures with low partial pressures such as those encountered in thermal conversion processes will require more liquid under the same absorption conditions than gases with higher partial pressures such as shale oil retort gases.

A typical procedure for the selective H₂ S removal phase of the process comprises selectively absorbing H₂ S via countercurrent contact of the gaseous mixture containing H₂ S and CO₂ with the solution of the amino compound in a column containing a plurality of trays at a low temperature, e.g., below 45° C., and at a gas velocity of at least about 0.3 ft/sec (based on "active" or aerated tray surface), depending on the operating pressure of the gas, said tray column having fewer than 20 contacting trays, with, e.g., 4-16 trays being typically employed.

After contacting the normally gaseous mixture with the absorbent solution, which becomes saturated or partially saturated with H₂ S, the solution may be at least partially regenerated so that it may be recycled back to the absorber. As with absorption, the regeneration may take place in a single liquid phase. Regeneration or desorption of the acid gases from the absorbent solution may be accomplished by conventional means such as pressure reduction of the solution or increase of temperature to a point at which the absorbed H₂ S flashes off, or by passing the solution into a vessel of similar construction to that used in the absorption step, at the upper portion of the vessel, and passing an inert gas such as air or nitrogen or preferably steam upwardly through the vessel. The temperature of the solution during the regeneration step should be in the range from about 50° to about 170° C., and preferably from about 80° to 120° C., and the pressure of the solution on regeneration should range from about 0.5 to about 100 psia, preferably 1 to about 50 psia. The absorbent solution, after being cleansed of at least a portion of the H₂ S gas, may be recycled back to the absorbing vessel. Makeup absorbent may be added as needed.

In the preferred regeneration technique, the H₂ S-rich solution is sent to the regenerator wherein the absorbed components are stripped by the steam which is generated by re-boiling the solution. Pressure in the flash drum and stripper is usually 1 to about 50 psia, preferably 15 to about 30 psia, and the temperature is typically in the range from about 50° to 170° C., preferably about 80° to 120° C. Stripper and flash temperatures will, of course, depend on stripper presure; thus at about 15 to 30 psia stripper pressures, the temperature will be about 80° to about 120° C. during desorption. Heating of the solution to be regenerated may very suitably be effected by means of indirect heating with low pressure steam. It is also possible, however, to use direct injection of steam.

In one embodiment for practicing the entire processs herein, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the gas mixture to be purified is introduced through line 1 into the lower portion of a gas-liquid countercurrent contacting column 2, said contacting column having a lower section 3 and an upper section 4. The upper and lower sections may be segregated by one or a plurality of packed beds as desired. The absorbent solution as described above is introduced into the upper portion of the column through a pipe 5. The solution flowing to the bottom of the column encounters the gas flowing countercurrently and dissolves the H₂ S preferentially. The gas freed from most of the H₂ S exits through pipe 6 for final use. The solution, containing mainly H₂ S and some CO₂, flows toward the bottom portion of the column, from which it is discharged through pipe 7. The solution is then pumped via optional pump 8 through an optional heat exchanger and cooler 9 disposed in pipe 7, which allows the hot solution from the regenerator 12 to exchange heat with the cooler solution from the absorber column 2 for energy conservation. The solution is entered via pipe 7 to a flash drum 10 equipped with a line (not shown) which vents to line 13 and then introduced by pipe 11 into the upper portion of the regenerator 12, which is equipped with several plates and effects the desorption of the H₂ S and CO₂ gases carried along in the solution. This acid gas mixture is passed through a pipe 13 into a condenser 14 wherein cooling and condensation of water and amine solution from the gas occur. The gas then enters a separator 15 where further condensation is effected. The condensed solution is returned through pipe 16 to the upper portion of the regenerator 12. The gas remaining from the condensation, which contains H₂ S and some CO₂, is removed through pipe 17 for final disposal (e.g., to a vent or incinerator or an apparatus which converts the H₂ S to sulfur, such as a Claus unit or a Stretford conversion unit (not shown)).

The solution is liberated from most of the gas which it contains while flowing downward through the regenerator 12 and exits through pipe 18 at the bottom of the regenerator for transfer to a reboiler 19. Reboiler 19, equipped with an external source of heat (e.g., steam is injected through pipe 20 and the condensate exits through a second pipe (not shown)), vaporizes a portion of this solution (mainly water) to drive further H₂ S therefrom. The H₂ S and steam driven off are returned via pipe 21 to the lower section of the regenerator 12 and exited through pipe 13 for entry into the condensation stages of gas treatment. The solution remaining in the reboiler 19 is drawn through pipe 22, cooled in heat exchanger 9, and introduced via the action of pump 23 (optional if pressure is sufficiently high) through pipe 5 into the absorber column 2.

The amino compounds herein are found to be superior to those used in the past, particularly to MDEA and DEAE, in terms of both selectively and capacity for maintaining selectively over a broad loading range. Typically, a gaseous stream to be treated having a 1:10 mole of ratio of H₂ S:CO₂ from an apparatus for thermal conversion of heavy residual oil, or a Lurgi coal gas having a mole ratio of H₂ S:CO₂ of less than 1:10 will yield an acid gas having a mole ratio of H₂ S:CO₂ of about 1:1 after treatment by the process of the present invention. The process herein may be used in conjunction with another H₂ S selective removal process; however, it is preferred to carry out the process of this invention by itself, since the amino compounds are extremely effective by themselves in preferential absorption of H₂ S.

The invention is illustrated further by the following examples, which, however, are not to be taken as limiting in any respect. All parts and percentages, unless expressly stated to be otherwise, are by weight.

EXAMPLE 1

FIG. 2 illustrates the sparged absorber unit, operated on a semi-batch mode, used to evaluate the selectively for H₂ S removal of the amino compounds of the invention herein. A gas mixture comprised of 10% CO₂, 1% H₂ S and 89% N₂ expressed in volume percent, respectively, was passed from a gas cylinder (not shown) through line 30 to a meter 31 measuring the rate at which the gas is fed to the absorber. For all examples this rate was 3.6 liters per minute. The gas was then passed through line 32 to a gas chromatography column (not shown) continuously monitoring the composition of the inlet gas and through lines 33 and 34 to a sparged absorber unit 35, which is cylindrical glass tube 45 cm high and 3.1 cm in diameter charged with 100 ml of the absorbent amine solution 36. The gas was passed through the solution at a solution temperature of 40° C., and 10-ml samples of the solution were periodically removed from the bottom of the absorber unit through lines 34 and 37 to be analyzed for H₂ S and CO₂ content. The H₂ S content in the liquid sample was determined by titration with slver nitrate. The CO₂ content of the liquid sample was analyzed by acidifying the sample with an aqueous solution of 10% HCl and measuring the evolved CO₂ by weight gain on NaOH-coated asbestos.

While the solution was being periodically withdrawn from the bottom of the absorber unit, the gas mixture was removed from the top thereof via line 38 to a trap 39 which served to scrub out any H₂ S in the outlet gas. The resulting gas could optionally then be passed via lines 40 and 41 for final disposal or via line 42 to a gas chromatography column (not shown) for periodic evaluation of the composition of the outlet gas to check for system leaks. For purposes of the examples, the H₂ S and CO₂ contents of the inlet gas phases were measured, and the H₂ S and CO₂ contents of the liquid phase were determined as described above. These data were used to calculate selectivity values of the amine as defined above, which were plotted as a function of the loading of the absorbent solution with H₂ S and CO₂, in units of moles acid gas per moles of the amino compound.

In this example an aqueous 3M solution of N-(3-hydroxypropyl)pyrrolidine (HPP) (pK_(a=) 10.21, b.p.=103° C. at 13 mm) was employed as the absorbent solution, and compared with an aqueous 3M solution of methyldiethanolamine (MDEA) as control using the same gas mixture and conditions. From the two plots of selectively for H₂ S removal against loading shown in FIG. 3 it can be seen that HPP has a far greater selectivity than MDEA, particularly at the higher H₂ S and CO₂ loadings where MDEA has negligible selectivity.

EXAMPLE 2

The procedure of Example 1 was repeated using as the absorbent solution a 3M aqueous solution of N-hydroxyethylpyrrolidine (HEP) (pk_(a) =9.95, b.p.=80° C. at 13 mm), and a selectivity plot was recorded.

The above experiment was repeated using an aqueous 3M solution of diethylmonoethanolamine (DEAE) as control in place of N-hydroxyethylpyrrolidine (HEP) using the same gas mixture and conditions. The results were plotted as in the case of HEP. From the two plots shown in FIG. 4 it is apparent that HEP is much more selective than DEAE and is even more selective at higher H₂ S and CO₂ loadings where DEAE has poorer selectivity.

EXAMPLES 3-6

The procedure of Example 1 was repeated using as the absorbent solution a 3M aqueous solution of one of four amines, i.e., N-(4-hydroxy-2-butyl)pyrrolidine (H2BP) (pK_(a) =10.25, b.p.=98° C. at 7mm), N-(4-hydroxybutyl) pyrrolidine (HBP) (pK_(a) =10.21, b.p.=95° C. at 2 mm), N-(3-hydroxypropyl)piperidine (HPPi) (pK_(a) =10.2, b.p.=97° C. at 5 mm), and N-methyl-2-hydroxyethylpiperidine (MHEPi) (pK_(a) =9.90, b.p.=233° C. at 760 mm). A selectivity plot for each amine was recorded, as shown in FIG. 5. It can be seen that HMP is the best of the four in terms of both selectivity and maintenance of capacity. However, all four amines showed better selectivity at the loading ranges tested than both MDEA andDEAE illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, respectively.

EXAMPLE 7

Table 1 shows the effect of O-alkoxylation of the heterocyclic aminoalkanols on their boiling points and pK_(a) values. It can be seen that in each case the boiling points increase relative to the respective parent compound while the pK_(a) remains constant. In addition to their low volatility and suitable basicity, the alkoxylated aminoalkanols exhibit a solubility in water (>3M) which is comparable or identical to that of the parent aminoalkanol.

                  TABLE 1                                                          ______________________________________                                                                       Boiling Point,                                   Aminoalkanol         pK.sub.a °C. (mm)                                  ______________________________________                                          ##STR1##            9.95      80 (13)                                          ##STR2##            9.95     110 (5)                                           ##STR3##            10.20    101 (13)                                          ##STR4##            10.20    140 (20)                                          ##STR5##            10.20     75 (14)                                          ##STR6##            10.20    100 (1)                                          ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLE 8

The procedure of Example 1 was repeated using as the absorbent solution a 3M aqueous solution of N=(2-hydroxyethoxyethyl)pyrrolidine (HEEP) (pK_(a) =9.95, b.p.=110° C. (5mm)) using the same gas mixture and conditions. The results were plotted as in the case of HEP. From the two plots shown in FIG. 6 comparing the selectivities of HEP and HEEP it is apparent that O-alkoxylation does not adversely affect the ability of the aminoalkanol to absorb H₂ S selectively.

EXAMPLE 9 Preparation of N-(3-hydroxypropyl)azetidine

To 14.4 g of LiAlH₄ in 270 ml of tetrahydrofuran was added 99 g of ethyl-3-(N-azetidinyl)propionate dissolved in 90 ml of tetrahydrofuran at a rate sufficient to maintain a gentle reflux. After an additional one-hour reflux the reaction mixture was cooled and treated sequentially with 14 ml of H₂ O and 14 ml of 12.5% NaOH. Filtration and distillation yielded 35.7 g of N-(3-hydroxypropyl)azetidine (b.p.=94.6° C. at 20 mm; analysis for C₆ H₁₃ NO, calculated: %N=12.16; found: %N=12.10).

Preparation of N-(3-hydroxypropyl)azepane

A solution of 1 mole of azepane and 0.5 mole of 3-chloro-1-propanol in 500 ml of ethanol was refluxed for 18 hours. The reaction mixture was treated with 0.55 mole of KOH and refluxed for 0.75 hour. Cooling, filtration and distillation yielded 88% of N-(3-hydroxypropyl)azepane (b.p.=136° C. at 21 mm; analysis for C₉ H₁₉ NO, calculated: %N=8.91; found: %N=8.30).

Selective H₂ S removal from a mixture containing H₂ S and CO₂

The procedure of Example 1 was repeated using as the absorbent solution of 3M aqueous solution of one of four N-(3-hydroxypropyl)-substituted heterocycles wherein the heterocycle contained 4, 5, 6 or 7 ring atoms, namely N-(3-hydroxypropyl)azetidine (prepared as described above), N-(3-hydroxypropyl)pyrrolidine, N-(3-hydroxypropyl)piperidine and N-(3-hydroxypropyl)azepane (prepared as described above). The same gas mixture and conditions were employed as in Example 1. From the selectivity plots shown in FIG. 7 it is apparent that decrease in ring size improves the selectivity of the aminoalkanol for the H₂ S, with the azetidinyl compound being the best of the four.

EXAMPLE 10 Preparation of N-(3-hydroxypropyl)-2,5-dimethylpyrrolidine

A total of 3 moles of 2,5-hexanedione, 3 moles of 3-amino-1propanol, 10 g of 10% Pd/C, and 500 ml of ethanol were charged to an autoclave. The reaction mixture was pressured up to 1100 psi of H₂ and kept for 3 hours at 100° C. Distillation yielded 170 g of N-(3-hydroxypropyl)-2,5-dimethylpyrrolidine (b.p.=119° C. at 25 mm).

Preparation of N-(hydroxyethoxyethyl)-2,5-dimethylpyrrolidine

A solution of 0.95 moles of 2,5-hexanedione, 0.95 mole of diglycolamine, and 1.4 g of p-toluenesulfonic acid in 400 ml of toluene was refluxed in a flask fitted with a Dean-Stark trap. After removal of the required amount of water, distillation yielded 157 g of N-(hydroxyethoxyethyl)-2,5-dimethylpyrrole with b.p.=110° C. at 13 mm.

The pyrrole, 0.8 mole in 1.2 1 of ethanol, was hydrogenated at 1100 psi H₂ for three hours at 100° C. using 5 g of 10% Pd/C. The cooled reaction mixture was filtered and distilled to yield N-(hydroxyethoxyethyl)-2,5-dimethylpyrrolidine (b.p.=80° C. at 0.4 mm).

Selective H₂ S removal from a mixture containing H₂ S and CO₂

The procedure of Example 1 was repeated using as the absorbent solution either a 3M aqueous solution of N-(3=hydroxypropyl)-2,5-dimethylpyrrolidine (HPDP) or a 3M aqueous solution of N-(hydroxyethoxyethyl)-2,5-dimethylpyrrolidine (HEEDP) using the same gas mixture and conditions. The two selectivity plots are shown in FIG. 8.

While all examples herein illustrate the superior performance of the amino compounds for selective H₂ S removal using an absorber unit as represented by FIG. 2, it will also be possible to achieve effective selective H₂ S removal by usng the amino compounds in an absorption-regeneration unit as depicted in FIG. 1.

In summary, this invention is seen to provide a special class of amino compounds characterized as nitrogen heterocyclic tertiary aminoalkanols and aminoetheralkanols having a high selectivity for H₂ S in preference to CO₂ while selectivity is maintained at high H₂ S and CO₂ loading levels.

These amino compounds are capable of reducing the H₂ S in gaseous mixtures to a relatively low level, e.g., less than about 200 ppm and have a relatively high capacity for H₂ S, e.g., greater than about 0.2 mole of H₂ S per mole of amine. The amino compounds are characterized as having a "kinetic selectivity" for H₂ S, i.e., a faster reaction rate for H₂ S than for CO₂ at absorption conditions. In addition they have a higher capacity for H₂ S at equivalent kinetic selectivity for H₂ S over CO₂. This higher capacity results in the economic advantage of lower steam requirements during regeneration.

Another means for determining whether an amino compound is selective to H₂ S removal is by measuring its 15N nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) chemical shift. By such measurements it has been found that the tertiary amino compounds herein have a 15N NMR chemical shift greater than about δ+50 ppm, preferably greater than about δ+55 ppm, when a 90% by wt. amine solution in 10% by wt. D₂ O at 35° C. is measured by a spectrometer using liquid (neat) ammonia at 25° C. as a zero reference value. For example, N-(2-hydroxyethoxyethyl)pyrrolidine (HEEP) has a ¹⁵ N NMR chemical shift value of δ+53.2 ppm whereas diethylmonoethanolamine (DEAE), N-methyl-N-tertiarybutylaminoethoxyethanol and methyldiethanolamine (MDEA) have ¹⁵ N NMR chemical shift values of δ+43.7, δ+45.0 and δ+27.4 ppm, respectively. As evident from the data shown herein, those amino compounds measured having an ¹⁵ N NMR chemical shift value greater than δ+50 had a higher H₂ S selectivity than DEAE and MDEA having an ¹⁵ N NMR chemical shift less than δ+50 ppm.

The data in FIG. 3 also show that the amino compounds of the present invention have very high capacity for both H₂ S and CO₂ compared to methyldiethanolamine (MDEA) in addition tol high H₂ S selectivities. It will be apparent from an inspection of the data in FIG. 3 that if the absorption process is conducted under conditions such that the amino compound has a long contact time with the gases to be absorbed, the selectivity for H₂ S decreases, but the overall capacity for both CO₂ and H₂ S remains rather high. Therefore, one may, in some instances, wish to carry out a "non-selective" absorption process to take advantage of the large absorption capacity of the amino compounds of the invention. Accordingly, one may carry out a "non-selective" acid gas removal absorption process using the amino compounds of the invention. Such "non-selective" processes are particularly useful in scrubbing natural gases which contain relatively high levels of H₂ S and low to nil levels of CO₂. As such, the amino compounds of the invention may replace some or all of monoethanolamine (MEA) or diethanolamine (DEA) commonly used for such scrubbing processes.

While the invention has been described in connection with specific embodiments thereof, it will be understood that it is capable of further modification, and this application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention following, in general, the principles of the invention and including such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which the invention pertains and as may be applied to the essential features hereinbefore set forth, and as fall within the scope of the invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A process for the selective absorption of H₂ S from a normally gaseous mixture containing H₂ S and CO₂ comprising contacting said normally gaseous mixture with an absorbent amino-compound-containing solution comprising a nitrogen heterocyclic tertiary aminoalkanol or nitrogen heterocyclic tertiary aminoetheralkanol having a pK_(a) of at least about 8.6 under kinetic conditions whereby H₂ S is selectivally absorbed from said mixtures.
 2. The process of claim 1 wherein the absorbent solution further comprises water, a physical absorbent, or mixtures thereof.
 3. The process of claim 2 wherein the total concentration of amino compound in the solution is in the range from about 0.1 to about 6 moles per liter.
 4. The process of claim 2 wherein the total concentration of amino compound in the solution is in the range from about 1 to about 4 moles per liter.
 5. The process of claim 1 wherein the absorbent solution is regenerated by heating and stripping.
 6. The process of claim 5 wherein the absorbent solution has a pK_(a) of between about 9.5 and 10.6 and the contacting step is conducted at a temperature ranging from about 20° to 100° C. and at a pressure ranging from 5 to 2000 psia, and the regeneration step is conducted at a temperature ranging from about 50° to 170° C. and at a pressure ranging from 1 to 50 psia.
 7. The process of claim 5 wherein the contacting step is conducted at a temperature ranging from about 40° to 60° C. and at a pressure ranging from 20 to 1500 psia, and the regeneration step is conducted at a temperature ranging from about 80° to 120° C. and at a pressure ranging from 15 to 30 psia.
 8. The process of claim 1 wherein the amino compound is a compound wherein the heterocyclic portion contains 4-7 ring atoms and the alkanol portion contains 2-10 carbon atoms and a primary hydroxyl group when the alkanol carbon atom is attached to the nitrogen atom.
 9. The process of claim 1 wherein the amino compound is selected from the group consisting of N-(3-hydroxypropyl)azetidine, N-hydroxyethylpyrrolidine, N-(3-hydroxypropyl)pyrrolidine, N-(4-hydroxy-2-butyl)-pyrrolidine, N-(4-hydroxybutyl)pyrrolidine, N-(2-hydroxyethoxyethyl)pyrrolidine, N-(3-hydroxypropyl)-2,5-dimethylpyrrolidine, N-(hydroxyethoxyethyl)-2,5-dimethylpyrrolidine, N-(3-hydroxypropyl)piperidine, and N-(3-hydroxypropyl)azepane.
 10. The process of claim 1 wherein the solution additionally includes an additive selected from the group consisting of antifoaming agents, antioxidants, and corrosion inhibitors.
 11. A process for the selective absorption of H₂ S from a normally gaseous mixture containing H₂ S and CO₂ comprising:(a) contacting said normally gaseous mixture with an absorbent amino-compound-containing solution comprising a nitrogen heterocyclic tertiary aminoalkanol or nitrogen heterocyclic tertiary aminoetheralkanol having a pK_(a) of at least about 8.6 having 4-7 ring atoms in the heterocycle portion and 2-10 carbon atoms in the alkanol portion and a primary hydroxyl group when the alkanol carbon atom is attached to the nitrogen atom, whereby said contacting is carried out at a temperature of from 20° to 100° C. and a pressure of from 5 to 2000 psia under kinetic conditions whereby H₂ S is selectively absorbed from said mixture; (b) heating said absorbent solution containing H₂ S at a temperature of from 50° to 170° C. at a pressure of from 1 to 50 psia, to at least partially regenerate said solution; and (c) recycling the regenerated solution for the selective absorption of H₂ S by contacting as in step (a). d
 12. The process of claim 11 wherein the absorbent solution further comprises water, a physical absorbent, or mixtures thereof.
 13. The process of claim 12 wherein the absorbent solution is an aqueous solution with a concentration of amino compound in the range from about 0.1 to about 6 moles per liter.
 14. The process of claim 11 wherein the solution additionally includes an additive selected from the group consisting of antifoaming agents, antioxidants, and corrosion inhibitors.
 15. A scrubbing solution for the selective absorption of H₂ S from a normally gaseous mixture containing H₂ S and CO₂ comprising:(a) an amino compound having a pK_(a) of at least about 8.6 and comprising a nitrogen heterocyclic tertiary aminoalkanol or nitrogen heterocyclic tertiary aminoetheralkanol; and (b) a solvent which solubilizes the amino compound and is a physical absorbent.
 16. The solution of claim 15 wherein the amino compound is N-(3-hydroxypropyl)azetidine or N-(3-hydroxypropyl)pyrrolidine and the physical absorbent is sulfolane.
 17. The solution of claim 15 which additionally contains water.
 18. The solution of claims 15, 16 or 17 wherein the concentration of the amino compound ranges from about 0.1 to 6 moles per liter of total solution.
 19. The solution of claims 15, 16 or 17 wherein the concentration of the amino compound ranges from 1 to 4 moles per liter of total solution.
 20. The solution of claim 17 wherein the concentration of the solvent which is a physical absorbent ranges from about 0.1 to 5 moles per liter of total solution.
 21. A process for the selective absorption of H₂ S from a normally gaseous mixture containing H₂ S and CO₂ comprising contacting said normally gaseous mixture with an absorbent amino-compound-containing solution comprising a mixture of a nitrogen heterocyclic tertiary aminoalkanol or nitrogen heterocyclic tertiary aminoetheralkanol and any other amino compound, wherein the mixture has a pK_(a) of at least 8.6, under kinetic conditions whereby H₂ S is selectively absorbed from said mixture.
 22. The process of claim 21 wherein said other amino compound is methyldiethanolamine.
 23. A process for removing H₂ S from gaseous streams containing same comprising contacting said gaseous stream with an absorbent amino-compound-containing solution, having a pK_(a) of at least about 8.6, comprising a nitrogen heterocyclic tertiary aminoalkanol or nitrogen heterocyclic tertiary aminoetheralkanol, wherein the contacting is performed under kinetic conditions. 